Grass-fed beef farms are not a new concept. They may be better described as a returning concept. In the 1950s feed lots where cattle were exclusively fed grain became popular with ranchers and meat producers. Within thirty years nearly one hundred percent of the beef in this country came from large feed lots.
Part of the reasoning behind using the feeding lots instead of pastures was controlling of the supply and demand arm of the industry. Feed lots enabled them to take young cattle and feed them regardless of weather or grazing conditions and thereby control the market prices as well as soy, corn and other grains that the cattle consumed. Unfortunately, experts are now expressing concerns over the wisdom of switching to feeding lots and the effect it has had on consumer health.
The amount of omega 3 fatty acids in pasture fed cattle is three to four times higher than what feed lot cattle can produce. As the omega 3 dropped in meat, coincidentally, the rate of heart disease and obesity has significantly risen in this country in the past forty years. There are cancer fighting acids, such as CLA that have also been diminished by conversion to feed lot raising of cattle.
Meat products taken from cattle that are pasture grazed contain three to four times higher omega 3 acids as meat from feed lot cows. The omega 3 acids serve to keep blood pressure down and control heart disease. They also may help stop or delay many mental health issues such as Alzheimer's or dementia.
When calves are left with their mothers for a minimum of eight months after birth they stand a better chance of acquiring the proper body frame. They can then be finished correctly and put on the proper marbling of fat. Finishing is the process of putting weight on the animal prior to processing. When the animals are finished in the feed lots they layer on fat rather than marbling their meat.
It is an investment to decide to pasture graze your cattle. You have to be committed to devoting at least two years to your first herd of cattle you raise for sale. There are nearly two thousand farmers and ranchers on the American continent that have decided that it is better to spend the time and effort to create a better, healthier product for the market.
Animals kept in the feeding lots are under constant stress. The overcrowding and unsanitary conditions are just the beginning of the problems. Many cattle become ill from eating the grains and the additives that are put in them. Anti-biotic are added to counter the problems inherent to the lots and the amounts must increase as the tolerance rises in the animals. These medications are passed to people who also get a raised tolerance to the medications through consumption of the meat.
The people who own grass-fed beef farms cannot be called organic farmers. They are a cut above the organic classification. These farmers use absolutely no commercial feeds for their cattle. They create the best environment for the cattle that can be created to ensure that the best product can be expected when you purchase their beef.
Part of the reasoning behind using the feeding lots instead of pastures was controlling of the supply and demand arm of the industry. Feed lots enabled them to take young cattle and feed them regardless of weather or grazing conditions and thereby control the market prices as well as soy, corn and other grains that the cattle consumed. Unfortunately, experts are now expressing concerns over the wisdom of switching to feeding lots and the effect it has had on consumer health.
The amount of omega 3 fatty acids in pasture fed cattle is three to four times higher than what feed lot cattle can produce. As the omega 3 dropped in meat, coincidentally, the rate of heart disease and obesity has significantly risen in this country in the past forty years. There are cancer fighting acids, such as CLA that have also been diminished by conversion to feed lot raising of cattle.
Meat products taken from cattle that are pasture grazed contain three to four times higher omega 3 acids as meat from feed lot cows. The omega 3 acids serve to keep blood pressure down and control heart disease. They also may help stop or delay many mental health issues such as Alzheimer's or dementia.
When calves are left with their mothers for a minimum of eight months after birth they stand a better chance of acquiring the proper body frame. They can then be finished correctly and put on the proper marbling of fat. Finishing is the process of putting weight on the animal prior to processing. When the animals are finished in the feed lots they layer on fat rather than marbling their meat.
It is an investment to decide to pasture graze your cattle. You have to be committed to devoting at least two years to your first herd of cattle you raise for sale. There are nearly two thousand farmers and ranchers on the American continent that have decided that it is better to spend the time and effort to create a better, healthier product for the market.
Animals kept in the feeding lots are under constant stress. The overcrowding and unsanitary conditions are just the beginning of the problems. Many cattle become ill from eating the grains and the additives that are put in them. Anti-biotic are added to counter the problems inherent to the lots and the amounts must increase as the tolerance rises in the animals. These medications are passed to people who also get a raised tolerance to the medications through consumption of the meat.
The people who own grass-fed beef farms cannot be called organic farmers. They are a cut above the organic classification. These farmers use absolutely no commercial feeds for their cattle. They create the best environment for the cattle that can be created to ensure that the best product can be expected when you purchase their beef.
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